Losing Isn't Really Losing

NBA great Michael Jordan once said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Let’s face it: If you play sports, you will lose sometimes. It is never easy, and sometimes it is downright painful. But sometimes, we need to endure it to get where we want to go.

If you study Paul after his conversion in Acts 9, he did not live a happy, safe life. In 2 Corinthians 11, he listed his various trials, like beatings, shipwrecks and one stoning. He continued by speaking about a thorn in the flesh that he prayed three times to be removed. God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Paul realized that God could use his weakness to give him strength in those situations. Paul’s losing turned into God winning through him.

Losing is never fun. Enduring trials, like being sick, failing a test or losing a job, are never fun. If we can keep our eyes focused on the One who bought the greatest victory with His blood – Jesus’ victory over sin and death – then God can use our life and sporting trials to bring His victory, and maybe in ways we would never see coming. Let’s fix our eyes on Him, for His grace is sufficient.